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Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019

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Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019 Demand Better. Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019 Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019 Contents Leader’s Foreword 02 Key Commitments 04 Brexit 06 Northern Ireland 11 Governance and Transparency 12 Work and Welfare 15 Climate and the Environment 19 Agriculture and Nature 22 Building an Integrated Society 26 Finance and Economy 31 Crime, Security and Justice 35 International Affairs 38 Contents Page 1 Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019 Leader’s Foreword Brexit hasn’t happened yet but it has already brought increased chaos and division. It has paralysed our politics, placed jobs at risk and threatened the stability of our community. There is no such thing as a good or sensible Brexit. However, if Brexit happens, we're clear that a chaotic no deal must be avoided. But Brexit can still be stopped – together, we must grasp this opportunity. Democracy did not end in June 2016. We now know the referendum was tainted by lies and dark money. Electoral law was broken – laws that ensure our democracy is fair and open. Over one million young people, who have had no opportunity to have a say over their future and who reject the politics of populism and division, are now eligible to vote. The extension of the Brexit deadline gives Parliament a chance to listen to the people and provide the clearest, most democratic means to end this chaos and uncertainty. This is your opportunity to elect MPs who will fight to stop Brexit, and protect the Good Friday Agreement and our economy. Alliance has led the call for a People’s Vote – a vote with Remain on the ballot paper. Voting Alliance is the clearest way to demand it and increase the votes in Parliament to deliver it. In a democracy, people have the right to change their mind. To demand better. In May this year, people came together to elect the first Alliance MEP. We now need to come together again and deliver Alliance MPs to stop Brexit, end the political paralysis in Stormont and deliver better for everyone. The situation with Brexit is still uncertain. This manifesto contains our plans for the next term based on remaining within the EU. However, if this election delivers a Parliamentary majority for Leave, then we have also included proposals to protect Northern Ireland’s interests in that scenario. In this Westminster manifesto we have set out our policy priorities for the next five-year term. We have focused specifically on those matters over which Westminster has direct control or influence. This isn't a stand-alone document – to get the fullest picture of how Alliance plans to deliver better, it should be read in conjunction with our Local Government, European and Assembly manifestos. These documents set out our policies for each of those tiers of Government, including key Alliance commitments such as reform of our health service, providing integrated and sustainable education and housing; a fairer system of welfare and benefits to protect vulnerable people; strategic investment in infrastructure, and enhanced environmental protection. Page 2 Leader’s Foreword Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019 Alliance has a vision for building a united community: a shared society, free from intimidation, discrimination and fear, where everyone is safe, can play their part and is treated fairly and with respect. We believe in a society for everyone. Diversity is a strength, enriching our lives and making our community more vibrant. It is something to be celebrated rather that exploited to divide us. We also believe new barriers anywhere within these islands represent a serious challenge to that vision for a more shared and prosperous future, as well as the Good Friday Agreement and our economy. Brexit is not an orange or green issue and Alliance is not an orange or green party. Each one of us will be affected by the decisions taken in Westminster. That's why we need to demand better than Brexit and zero-sum politics: our people, our prosperity and our political stability depend on it. On Thursday 12th December, Demand Better. Vote Alliance. Brexit is not an orange or green issue and Alliance is not an orange or green party. Naomi Long MEP Leader of the Alliance Party Leader’s Foreword Page 3 Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019 Key Commitments In this Parliament Alliance will: Demand Better Than Brexit Northern Ireland’s interests are best served within the EU, which is why we want to Remain. If a Leave Parliament seeks to persue Brexit, then we want to minimise the harm. In descending order of preference we want: • A People’s Vote with the option to remain in the EU. • The whole UK to remain in the Single Market and Customs Union. • A Special Deal for Northern Ireland. Demand Better Devolution Northern Ireland deserves a stable, functioning and locally accountable Assembly based on delivery, cooperation and mutual respect. We support: • Holding urgent, time-bound talks led by an independent mediator and if agreement can’t be reached before the 13th January 2020 deadline, then we need fresh elections. The drift and decline in public services in NI cannot go on. • Creating a new approach to devolution to ensure that if one or two parties are holding up devolution, those who want to do the job have the opportunity to do so. • Reforming the petition of concern before the Assembly returns. Demand Better Integration We want to create a fairer society, integrating services and delivering social reforms, by: • Developing a comprehensive approach to promoting a shared future, through prioritising integrated education, shared neighbourhoods and promoting community relations. • Opposing any repeal of the Human Rights Act. • Bringing Northern Ireland into line with equality and discrimination law in the rest of the UK by creating a Single Equality Act. • Requiring all Executive policies to be ‘shared future-proofed’ to ensure that all major decisions support a united society rather than continuing or enhancing division. • Creating a Programme for Government outcome on ending sectarianism to drive action across Executive departments. Page 4 Key Commitments Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019 Demand Better Public Services Due to a combination of political stagnation and austerity, our public services are struggling. We support: • Reforming the education system so we end annual crises in school budgets. • Implementing the Bengoa reforms to transform our health service, freeing up resources to pay health sector staff fairly. • Radically improving our infrastructure to boost economic growth, benefit communities and prepare Northern Ireland for the future. Demand Better Governance and Transparency We believe in open and transparent politics. We propose: • Realising full transparency of political donations in Northern Ireland. • Reforming Westminster by allowing votes at 16, introducing PR elections for the House of Commons and directly electing the House of Lords. • Delivering MPs who are committed to working for everyone in their constituency, celebrating the diversity of Northern Ireland. Demand Better Work and Welfare Overhaul the welfare system at Westminster to deliver support for all those who need it. We support: • Extending the welfare mitigations for Northern Ireland and legislating to reclassify housing associations. • Repealing cruel UK-wide welfare measures such as the bedroom tax, the two-child limit and the six-month rule. • Ending the benefits cap and the punitive sanctions regime. • Supporting increases to Carers Allowance and Statutory Maternity Pay as well as minimum wage equality for young people. • Expanding free childcare provision to 30 hours per week. Demand Better Climate Action The world is facing a climate emergency and urgent action is needed, including: • Reducing the UK’s net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2030. • Mitigating the impact of climate change by implementing a comprehensive climate action plan. • Embedding environmentalism and climate action at the heart of government planning and delivery. Key Commitments Page 5 Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019 Brexit Alliance is a progressive, internationalist and pro-European party. We recognise that in this modern, globalised world we face many transnational challenges from climate change to the regulation of the internet, and we are stronger through co-operation and pooling our sovereignty. The European Union allows us to face those challenges together. People in Northern Ireland recognise the huge benefits of EU membership, which is why the majority voted to remain. Alliance is standing up for Northern Ireland and advocating for the best interests of the people of this region, through maintaining political stability, defending the Good Friday Agreement, retaining open borders throughout these islands, protecting our economy and enabling future opportunities. Northern Ireland only works based on sharing and interdependence, yet Brexit entails new divisions, barriers and friction. Brexit exposes contradictions and ambiguities that are otherwise being managed through the Good Friday Agreement. Any form of Brexit poses significant problems for Northern Ireland. Our economy depends on sales and supply chains across these islands. Brexit undermines people’s ability to enjoy current rights as EU citizens. Brexit brings problems for security and other forms of inter- governmental co-operation. This is why there is no such thing as a good or sensible Brexit – it is an act of huge self-sabotage. We want to stop Brexit but if Brexit is forced through, we want to minimise the harm. Our priorities and preferences are in descending order: • A People's Vote to reconsider Brexit, with the option to remain in the EU. • The whole of the UK remaining in the Single Market and Customs Union. • A Special Deal that helps the Northern Ireland economy and defends the Good Friday Agreement. Page 6 Brexit Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019 Our Campaign for a People’s Vote In order to stop Brexit the most coherent, feasible and democratic way forward is a People’s Vote.
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